1. Tennessee FFA Agriscience Fair CDE Chaney Mosley Tennessee FFA Executive Secretary July 2011

2. Objectives Overview of the Agriscience Fair
Rules of the Agriscience Fair
Information About the Competition
Agriscience Fair Project Display
Logbook
Project Final Report
Tips for Teaching

3. What is the Agriscience Fair?
Opportunity to explore an area of interest in agriculture
Enhances SAE (good for STAR applicants and proficiency applications)
Academic integration
Teaches problem solving and critical thinking
Recognizes students for scientific exploration
Promotes career success

4. Research Based Project
Categories include:
Animal Systems
Environmental Service Systems / Natural Resource Systems
Food Products and Processing Systems
Plant Systems
Power, Structural and Technical Systems
Social Sciences
Divisions:
Division I: individual students 7th - 9th
Division II: individual students 10th - 12th
Division III: teams of two members 7th - 9th
Division IV: teams of two members 10th - 12th
Participation in the same category and division over multiple years will be allowed. Must document research is a continuation of past research presented

5. Project Must Use Scientific Method

6. Display May consist of one or more panels
Must be stable & free standing
Max size =
48” wide x 30” deep x 108” high from the floor

7. Display Upper right hand corner must have Name of student(s)
Chapter Name
Title of Category
Division (I - IV)

8. Winning Display Conduct multiple trials
One trial may not be enough to draw a conclusion
Attempt at least three trials
Prepare a display to give your audience a quick overview of
The question you asked, the method you used, the result you got, and the conclusion you came to
Create charts, diagrams or illustrations to explain your question, methods and results
A neat and organized poster will obviously communicate your work better than a sloppy, disorganized poster

9. Include within Display
Demonstration Materials
Items that illustrate a scientific principle, equipment or materials used, or enable others to retrace your steps
”Hands-on" will make an exhibit more interesting and help others understand your discovery
Use photographs to illustrate your work if your experiment involves valuable equipment or animals & dangerous chemicals that are not allowed
Log Book (see handout)
Project Report (see handout)

10. Getting Started Selecting a Research Topic Choose a topic of interest
Realistic
(student abilities, knowledge, resources and time)
Select topic matches closely to SAE
Seek a topic that can be expanded
National winning projects (long term 2-3 year with performed replications & more data collection)

16. Tips for Teaching
Require students to complete an agriscience fair project as a classroom assignment
Conduct a school wide Agriscience Fair
Have science teachers judge projects using the agriscience fair scoring rubric…then ask them for suggestions
Give prizes (ribbons, t-shirts, money, certificates, etc)
Display completed projects throughout school
Do not allow freshmen to pair up with 10th – 12th grade students
Find community contacts who can/will help students with projects
Veterinarians
Hospital laboratories
Horticulturists
Mechanics
Relate projects to student SAEs
Add this information to proficiency award applications

17. What Does A Local Agriscience Fair Look Like?
The quality of projects will
vary
Some students will go above
and beyond
Use the local agriscience
fair as a state qualifier

18. Questions?

19. Let’s Complete A Project
Break Into Groups
Distribute Supplies
Provide Direction
Complete Projects
Judge